Shell out means to pay money, usually unwillingly, for something you would rather not buy, and the phrase belongs to informal speech and light journalism. To use shell out in a sentence, name the amount… Read More »Shell Out in a Sentence: Meaning, Examples & Practice
Rub off on means to pass a quality, habit or mood to someone through close contact, usually without intending to. To use rub off on in a sentence, make the quality the subject and the… Read More »Rub Off On in a Sentence: Meaning & Examples
Hand in means to give something to a person in authority, usually an assignment, a form or a piece of equipment. To use hand in in a sentence, keep a pronoun inside the phrase: “Hand… Read More »Hand In in a Sentence: Meaning, Uses & Examples
Aim at means to point something toward a target, or to direct an effort toward a goal, audience or result. To use aim at in a sentence, give it a noun or a gerund: “The… Read More »Aim At in a Sentence: Meaning, Uses & Examples
Factoid means a short, trivial item of information that is repeated as though it were a solid fact. To use factoid in a sentence, attach it to the piece of information rather than to a… Read More »Factoid in a Sentence: Meaning, Sense & Examples
Yeti vs abominable snowman is mostly a question of register: use yeti for clear, current writing and keep abominable snowman for historical colour. The two are names for the same legendary creature said to live… Read More »Yeti vs Abominable Snowman: Which Name to Use?
Yonks vs ages comes down to audience: use ages for general English and reserve yonks for British writing that wants a livelier, more dated flavour. Both mean a very long time and both are informal,… Read More »Yonks vs Ages: Which One to Use in a Sentence?
Lord over means to act as though you are superior to somebody, or to hold power over a place or group. To use lord over in a sentence, add the pronoun it: “He lords it… Read More »Lord Over in a Sentence: Meaning, Examples & Practice
Grueling is an adjective meaning extremely tiring and demanding over a long stretch. To use grueling in a sentence, put it before the task that drains people: “The rescue was a grueling effort.” American English… Read More »Grueling in a Sentence: Meaning, Examples & Practice
Come down with is a fixed phrase meaning to begin to be ill with something, usually a minor infection. To use come down with in a sentence, name the illness after with: “She came down… Read More »Come Down With in a Sentence: Meaning & Examples
Choose zealot vs fanatic by the object of the person and the weight of the judgement. A zealot is devoted to a belief, faith or cause and can sound intolerant or dangerous; a fanatic is… Read More »Zealot vs Fanatic: Which Word Should You Use?
Cozen means to deceive or trick someone, often by charm or flattery, and it is now rare outside old books and formal prose. To use cozen in a sentence, treat it as a transitive verb… Read More »Cozen in a Sentence: Meaning, Forms & Examples
Post up means to display something publicly on a board or wall, or to station yourself in one place. To use post up in a sentence, choose the sense: you post up a notice so… Read More »Post Up in a Sentence: Meaning, Uses & Examples
Pack out means to fill a place to capacity with people, or to fill a container tightly with things. To use pack out in a sentence, name what is filled and put the crowd or… Read More »Pack Out in a Sentence: Meaning, Grammar & Examples
Whip out means to pull something out quickly and without ceremony, usually from a pocket, bag or drawer. To use whip out in a sentence, keep the tone informal and name the object: a phone,… Read More »Whip Out in a Sentence: Meaning, Uses & Examples
Spur on means to encourage someone to keep going or to make something happen faster. To use spur on in a sentence, put the person or thing between spur and on: “The coach spurred the… Read More »Spur On in a Sentence: Meaning, Grammar & Examples